CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland mayoral race has gotten dirty early. In the spirit of the ongoing NBA playoff action and Donald Trump, Jackson has taken to trash talking his campaign opponent, councilman Zach Reed.

Last Tuesday, during a news conference, Jackson was asked about Reed's opposition to the mayor's proposed $2.4 million track for dirt bikes. "He can say anything, whatever he thinks is to his advantage, said Jackson. "There are pimps in every world. He's pimping this situation... exploiting it for the purpose of his own interests."

Naturally, Reed took offense. "Zach Reed may be a lot of things, but one thing Zack Reed is not is an exploiter of the issues. None of what I'm doing is for political gain. As I continue to say, when they break the law, we have people in place to enforce the laws. We can talk about using $2.4 million on a lot of things if you're talking about reducing violence in the city of Cleveland," said Reed. Apparently Reed also wants to show Cleveland needs a mayor who can speak in the third person.

"Mayor Jackson has lost his way. He called @zachreed12 a pimp. A derogatory term that offends me. He disrespects us who disagree w/dirt bikes.-@VoteJeffJohnson "

"Mayor Jackson, we who challenge you as elected leaders are not pimps for publicly challenging you to show leadership on the dirt bike problem. - @VoteJeffJohnson

Trump would have ended those tweets with his traditional sign-off "SAD!"

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer also took the mayor to task for his comments in an editorial you can read here.

If there were a Pimp Protection League, they might also object to Mayor Jackson comparing them to a politician.

Jackson's comments struck me as an early sign that he may be bristling at likely facing his stiffest re-election challenge, in Johnson and Reed.

Not only do Johnson and Reed posses the street cred in the neighborhoods that past Jackson opponents like Ken Lanci lacked, Jackson is running in a year in which the national mood of the electorate still favors change from the status quo.

Longtime Jackson administration member Blaine Griffin being appointed to City Council is widely seen as a move meant to position him to succeed Jackson in four years. Instead, Griffin may find himself trying to succeed one of Jackson's opponents this year.

Dirt Track debate

There have been good arguments made for and against the mayor's proposed track for dirt bikes. There should be no debate that dirt bikes running roughshod on Cleveland's streets is a real problem that needs to be addressed.

The dirt bike debate actually reminds me of the debate in suburbs over building skateboard parks. Many of the same pro and con arguments were made that are being made about the dirt track. People objected to cost. They said the skateboard parks would create problems and draw the wrong element.

Bay Village has a modest skateboard park. It was built despite objections. It sits right next to the winter sledding hill in the city's central park, which is also used for soccer and flag football games, and Fourth of July festival. I drive by it at least once a week. I see kids enjoying themselves on their skateboards, rolling around the designated park, instead of damaging private and public property not meant for skateboards.

As I've noted, there have been solid arguments made in opposition to the dirt track. But what are the opponents realistic alternative solution to the dirt bike problem?

The odds still favor Jackson's re-election, but his race won't be a cake walk, and it shouldn't be a pimp walk either. The dirt should be kept on the dirt track.

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